THE Gilas Pilipinas Women’s Basketball Team wrapped up their 2025 William Jones Cup stint in disappointment, finishing in fifth place after suffering a tough loss to Chinese Taipei on Sunday.
After evening their record at 1-1 with a win over Thailand, the Nationals spiraled into a rough stretch, closing their campaign on a three-game losing skid.
Adding to the heartbreak, the Filipinas were thoroughly outplayed by the Taiwanese, 57-76, crashing out of medal contention in front of the home crowd at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.
Held Their Ground
In familiar fashion, the Philippines hung tough early and stayed close in the first half, trailing by only two points at halftime, 32-30.
But things unraveled after the break. WUG CTUS pulled away by dominating the third quarter, outscoring Gilas 20-11 to enter the final frame with a 50-43 lead.
The collapse continued in the fourth, where the Filipinas were again outmatched, 26-14, locking in their fourth defeat in five games and putting an end to their podium bid.
On top of that, Taipei’s defense stood out, forcing nine steals and three blocks while limiting the Philippines to just 21-of-69 shooting from the field (30.4%).
Disappointing Finish
With the loss, Gilas Pilipinas exits the six-nation event at fifth place, ending with a 1-4 record — matching their lowest finish in the tournament since a similar result back in 2023.
One major factor was the limited production from key player Jack Animam, who scored just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting, though she grabbed 11 boards and had two steals.
Vanessa de Jesus led the way with 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Naomi Panganiban added 10 points, six boards, three assists, and two steals of her own.
On the other end, Wang Yue Shi led WUG CTUS with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting and two rebounds, while Huang Qiao Jun followed with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and dished out five assists.
The win improved Chinese Taipei’s standing to 3-2, keeping their medal hopes alive — and should Japan Universiade win, WUG CTUSF will secure the bronze medal.
